Chapter 18 - Chimera

The faint shuffling sound grew louder, a deliberate scrape of claws against stone. My [Danger Sense] buzzed like a low hum in the back of my mind, and my muscles tensed instinctively. Ahead, the horned rabbit crouched low, her blue eyes locked onto the darkness where the sound originated.

The creature emerged slowly; its hulking form revealed inch by inch as it stepped into the faint glow of the moss. My chest tightened at the sight.

It was a chimeric beast, its frame distorted and mismatched like a patchwork experiment gone horribly wrong. Its upper body was vaguely feline, with a matted mane of coarse fur, but its lower half resembled an oversized reptilian tail, its scaly surface gleaming faintly in the dim light. Its claws scraped against the ground as it moved, and its mismatched eyes—one a pale, milky white and the other a vivid crimson—locked onto us.

The creature's growl deepened, resonating through the chamber like a distant thunderstorm. Its mismatched eyes flickered in the faint glow of the moss, scanning us with a calculating malice. My legs tensed instinctively, pain shooting through my battered body as I readied myself to move.

Ahead of me, the horned rabbit didn't flinch. She crouched lower, her sharp horn glinting as she angled it toward the beast. Every movement was deliberate, purposeful. For a moment, I felt a strange pang in my chest—not admiration, of course, but something that made me hesitate.

Then the beast lunged.

The horned rabbit darted to the side, her small frame a blur as the creature's claws raked through the air where she had stood. Her movements were quick, graceful, leaving no wasted energy. She twisted midair, landing lightly on a nearby outcropping of stone, her horn already angled for another strike.

I gritted my teeth, forcing my trembling legs into motion. The ache in my ribs flared with every step, but I pushed it aside. I wasn't going to let her handle this alone—not because she needed help, obviously, but because watching from the sidelines wasn't an option.

The creature's attention snapped to me as I moved. It snarled, its massive tail whipping toward me like a coiled snake. I leapt with [Bounce], the air rushing past me as the tail slammed into the ground where I'd been standing. The impact sent a spray of loose stone flying, one shard grazing my side.

[HP: 12 → 9]

The horned rabbit seized the opening. She darted forward, her horn glowing faintly as it struck the beast's flank. A sharp crack echoed through the chamber, and the creature let out a guttural roar, twisting violently to shake her off.

She was already gone, leaping back to a safe distance. Her blue eyes flicked toward me, sharp and assessing, as if gauging my next move.

I ignored the flare of pain in my side and charged forward, aiming for the creature's exposed underbelly. My [Blood Sight] flickered to life, painting the world in crimson hues. The creature's life force burned erratically, veins of unstable energy coursing through its massive frame. A faint glow near its chest caught my attention—a weak point.

Perfect.

I coiled my muscles and launched myself toward it, my hind legs lashing out with a powerful [Kick]. The impact reverberated through my body, and the creature howled in pain, staggering backward. Its crimson eye locked onto me, blazing with fury.

"You want me? Come and get me," I muttered under my breath.

The beast lunged, its claws swiping toward me in a blur. I twisted midair, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the force of the movement sent me tumbling awkwardly to the ground. My legs screamed in protest as I scrambled to my feet, the orb in my chest pulsing faintly.

The horned rabbit moved again, her horn slashing toward the creature's tail. Her strikes were precise, each one aimed at slowing its movements. The beast roared, spinning toward her with terrifying speed.

The fight blurred into a series of frantic motions. The creature was relentless, its attacks coming faster and harder with every passing second. My legs burned with exhaustion, and the ache in my chest was a constant, throbbing reminder of how close I was to my limit.

But I couldn't stop.

The horned rabbit darted in and out of the creature's reach, her movements impossibly fluid. She didn't hesitate, didn't falter—not once. Watching her, I felt a flicker of something unfamiliar—something that made me grit my teeth and push myself harder.

She wasn't better than me.

My claws raked against the beast's flank, drawing a line of crimson that dripped onto the stone. The creature snarled, its tail whipping toward me again. I leapt, twisting midair to avoid the strike, and landed awkwardly beside the horned rabbit.

For a brief moment, our eyes met.

Her gaze was steady, unreadable. There was no judgment in those blue eyes, no disdain—only a calm, quiet focus that made my chest tighten. She didn't see me as a rival, or a liability. She simply turned back to the fight, her movements deliberate and unhurried.

It made my skin crawl.

The creature staggered, its movements growing more erratic. The glow near its chest dimmed faintly, its unstable energy flickering like a dying flame. I could feel the shift—the fight was turning in our favor.

The horned rabbit moved first, darting toward the beast's flank. Her horn pierced its side, drawing a roar of pain that echoed through the cavern. The creature twisted toward her, its claws slashing wildly, but she was already gone.

I saw my chance.

With a burst of strength, I propelled myself toward the weak point, my hind legs coiling for a final strike. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its warmth spreading through me as I lashed out with everything I had.

My [Kick] connected with a sickening crunch.

[Critical Hit! HP Reduced.]

The creature let out a deafening wail, its massive frame convulsing as the glow beneath its chest flared brightly—then extinguished. It collapsed to the ground, the impact shaking the cavern like a small earthquake. The air grew still, the only sound my ragged breathing.

[You have defeated a Chimeric Beast. Obtained 40 EXP.]

I staggered as I landed, my legs trembling beneath me. Every muscle in my body ached, and the faint pulse of the orb was the only thing keeping me upright. My gaze flicked toward the horned rabbit, who stood a few paces away, her blue eyes fixed on the fallen beast.

She didn't look at me—didn't say anything. Instead, she crouched low, sniffing at the creature's still form as if searching for something. Her calm focus sent a flare of irritation through me.

"What?" I said, my voice hoarse.

"Not impressed?"

She tilted her head slightly, her ears twitching, but didn't respond. Instead, she turned and began hopping toward the far side of the chamber, her movements as light and deliberate as ever.

"Of course," I muttered, forcing myself to follow.

"You're welcome."

As I limped after her, the faint hum of the orb grew louder, its rhythm syncing with the lingering tension in the air. Something about this place felt… wrong. The fight was over, but the whispers I'd heard earlier seemed closer now, their voices blending with the pulse of the dungeon.

I glanced back at the fallen creature, its lifeless form crumpled against the stone. The fight had been brutal—but this was just the beginning.

The horned rabbit didn't look back as she led the way into the next passage, her horn catching the faint light as we disappeared into the shadows.

The passage twisted further downward, the air growing colder with each step. Thin rivulets of water trickled down the jagged walls, pooling in shallow depressions along the floor. Each step echoed faintly, the sound swallowed by the oppressive quiet of the dungeon. The orb in my chest throbbed faintly, steady but silent. Its rhythm was a constant, an unspoken reassurance that I was still standing—still fighting.

Ahead of me, the horned rabbit moved with a quiet grace, her figure almost blending into the dim light cast by patches of bioluminescent moss. Her horn caught the faint glow, its sharp edge gleaming like a predator's fang. She didn't hesitate, didn't pause to look back, as if she expected me to follow without question.

I didn't like it, the way she moved so confidently, as though she owned this space. But I followed. Not because I trusted her, but because turning back wasn't an option.

The passage opened into a wide chamber, its floor uneven and slick with moisture. Massive roots twisted down from the ceiling, their surfaces gnarled and wet, like the veins of a massive, slumbering beast. Small creatures darted between the roots—rodents, or perhaps something less mundane. Their faint, glowing trails of life flickered briefly in my [Blood Sight] before vanishing into the shadows.

The horned rabbit stopped near the center of the chamber, her ears flicking as she scanned the room. I hesitated at the threshold, my claws scraping against the wet stone. The air was heavier here, thick with an unplaceable tension. It pressed against my fur, my chest, making it harder to breathe.

I caught the faint scent of something metallic, like rusted iron. Blood, maybe. It clung to the back of my throat, sharp and bitter. The orb pulsed faintly in response, its rhythm quickening just enough to make me glance down at my chest.

A sound cut through the silence: a faint, wet squelch that set my ears twitching. It came from somewhere beyond the far wall, hidden in the darkness. My [Danger Sense] hummed softly, a low, insistent buzz at the edge of my awareness.

The horned rabbit crouched low, her body tense. Her gaze darted to me, a brief glance that carried more weight than any words could have. Her blue eyes flickered with something—expectation, perhaps, or challenge.

I didn't need her to say anything. Whatever was out there, it wasn't leaving. Not without a fight.

I stepped forward, the ache in my legs momentarily forgotten. My claws clicked softly against the stone as I moved, my eyes scanning the chamber for any sign of movement. The orb pulsed again, a faint warmth spreading through my chest.

The sound came again, louder this time. Something shifted in the darkness, a shape too large to be the rodents I'd seen earlier. My [Blood Sight] flared, painting the shadows in hues of crimson. The life force was faint, erratic, but massive.

The moment the creature locked its glowing yellow eyes on us, the horned rabbit's body tensed. Her horn angled forward like a spear, and her powerful hind legs dug into the stone floor. She was ready to fight—whether or not I was, it didn't seem to matter.

The hulking beast moved with unsettling deliberation, claws scraping against the stone as it prowled closer. It resembled a giant wolverine, its matted fur glistening with dampness. Faintly glowing moss draped its body like eerie camouflage, and its breaths came in slow, guttural growls. A thin haze of steam rose from its nostrils, curling in the chilled air.

I activated [Blood Sight], and the creature's life force flared to life in my vision—a chaotic tangle of glowing red veins, erratic and pulsing. My eyes narrowed as I focused. Its weak point flickered faintly: just above the base of its spine.

I'd need to get behind it.

Before I could move, the horned rabbit dashed forward. Her compact frame blurred as she darted left, then right, weaving through the jagged stones that littered the chamber floor. The creature lashed out with its massive claws, narrowly missing her.

She was precise, deliberate. Each movement made with perfect economy, no wasted effort. It made my own reckless bounding feel… amateurish.

But I wasn't about to let her steal all the glory.

I coiled my legs, [Bounce] activating as I launched myself forward. The familiar rush of air filled my ears as I arced over the beast, landing just behind it. Its head snapped toward me, but not before I lashed out with [Kick]. My hind legs struck the creature's spine, right where the weak point glimmered.

It howled, its body jerking violently as it twisted to face me. The blow wasn't enough to take it down, but I felt a grim satisfaction as it stumbled, its movements slower and more erratic now.

[Proficiency Increased: Kick Lv. 5 → Kick Lv. 6.]

The horned rabbit darted in again, her horn flashing as it grazed the beast's shoulder. A thin line of blood welled up, but it was shallow—she hadn't aimed to kill, just to distract. The beast's yellow eyes flared with fury as it swung at her again, missing by inches as she leapt clear.

I caught myself smirking.

Was that her plan? Draw its attention, let me take the final blow? Or was she testing me, seeing if I could hold my own?

"Fine," I muttered under my breath.

"Let's show you how it's done."

The beast lunged for me now, its claws slashing wide. I ducked low, feeling the air above my ears ripple as the attack passed. My legs screamed in protest as I pivoted, [Hypnotic Gaze] flaring to life as I locked eyes with the creature.

Its movements faltered. The glowing yellow in its eyes dimmed as its body stiffened. I didn't have long—my hold wasn't strong enough to freeze something this size for more than a second or two.

"Now!" I barked, though I wasn't sure if the horned rabbit understood me.

She moved anyway.

Her horn angled forward, and she leapt high, aiming for the beast's exposed throat. The tip struck true, piercing the soft flesh. The creature roared in agony, thrashing wildly as blood sprayed across the mossy stones.

I darted in while it was distracted, leaping onto its back. My claws raked across its spine, and I followed with another [Kick], striking the base of its neck. The beast shuddered, its growl fading into a low whimper as it collapsed to the ground.

Its life force flickered, then faded entirely.

[You have defeated a Mossbound Beast. Obtained 15 EXP.]

I dropped back to the floor, panting as the adrenaline coursing through me began to ebb. My legs trembled, and I winced as the ache in my muscles made itself known. The horned rabbit landed lightly beside me; her blue eyes calm as she scanned the beast's lifeless form.

[Level Up! Level 4 → 5.]

A rush of warmth flooded my chest as the notification appeared. My body felt lighter, my movements more fluid, and the faint pulse of the orb steadied.

She glanced at me then, her gaze unreadable. For a moment, it felt like she was waiting for something—acknowledgment, perhaps? A thank you?

I straightened, shaking the blood from my claws.

"Not bad," I said casually, brushing past her.

"For you."

Her ears twitched, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned and began sniffing the air, her movements calm and deliberate as she scouted the chamber.

The beast's blood seeped into the moss-covered floor, disappearing into the earth as though the dungeon itself was alive. The moss seemed to pulse faintly, its greenish glow dimming and brightening in an unsettling rhythm.

I took a moment to scan the chamber. The air was cooler here, damp and heavy with the scent of earth and decay. Jagged stalagmites rose like uneven teeth from the floor, their slick surfaces glistening faintly in the dim light. Overhead, clusters of luminous fungi clung to the ceiling, their soft light casting distorted shadows across the walls.

In the far corner of the chamber, a narrow stream trickled over smooth stones, its water black and sluggish. The sound was faint, barely audible over the quiet hum that seemed to emanate from the dungeon itself.

The horned rabbit moved with purpose, her steps light as she navigated the uneven terrain. Her horn caught the faint glow of the fungi, its rough surface gleaming. She stopped near the stream, lowering her head to sniff at the water.

"Great," I muttered, limping after her.

"What now?"

She didn't respond. Instead, she pawed lightly at the ground, uncovering a faint groove in the stone. It wasn't natural—too precise, too deliberate. Another marking, like the ones we'd seen earlier.

This time, I activated [Blood Sight], scanning the area. Threads of faint life force shimmered in the distance, moving slowly, deliberately. They were clustered together, their patterns erratic but purposeful.

"More company," I said, my voice low.

She turned to me, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. There was no fear in her gaze, only sharp, unyielding focus.